Alkermes plc (ALKS) Announces Notice of Allowance of Key U.S. Patent for Aripiprazole Lauroxil, a New Schizophrenia Drug Candidate

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alkermes plc (NASDAQ: ALKS) today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application 12/823,007, titled “Heterocyclic Compounds for the Treatment of Neurological and Psychological Disorders.” The allowed claims will cover a class of compounds that includes aripiprazole lauroxil, a proprietary Alkermes molecule formerly referred to as ALKS 9070, which is in development for the treatment of schizophrenia. Aripiprazole lauroxil is designed to provide patients with once-monthly dosing of a medication that, once in the body, converts into aripiprazole, a molecule that is commercially available under the name ABILIFY® for the treatment of a number of central nervous system (CNS) disorders.